How Do I Compare Colleges in Philadelphia, Including Christian Schools Like Eastern University?

Updated

Philadelphia-area colleges fall into three broad categories: public institutions, private secular schools, and private religious-affiliated schools. Eastern University is one example of the third type — a Christian university in the Philadelphia area — but it is not the only option, and the right choice depends on what you want from your education. To compare schools, work through four dimensions: type and mission, location and size, degree offerings, and cost. The sections below explain each, with a practical checklist at the end.

Start With the Three Main Types of Philadelphia Colleges

Most schools you'll encounter fit one of these categories:

Type What it means Examples of the category
Public State- or city-funded; broad access mission Public universities and community colleges in the region
Private secular Independent, no religious affiliation Private universities and liberal arts colleges
Private religious-affiliated Founded by or tied to a faith tradition; mission includes spiritual formation Eastern University and other faith-based schools

The category matters because it shapes mission, campus culture, and often curriculum requirements. A public school's mission centers on access and workforce or research needs; a religious-affiliated school's mission typically includes character or spiritual development alongside academics.

What Makes a Christian College or University Different

Eastern University describes itself as "a Christian university in Philadelphia dedicated through teaching, scholarship, service, spiritual formation, student development and societal involvement to the preparation of undergraduate and graduate students." That wording captures the key distinction: spiritual formation is named as part of the educational mission, not treated as separate from it.

In practice, that difference usually shows up in:

  • Mission and language — faith commitments appear in the school's stated purpose, not just its history.
  • Campus life — chapel, ministry groups, or service programs are part of the student experience.
  • Curriculum — some schools require religion or theology courses; others integrate faith perspectives into general education.
  • Community expectations — lifestyle or conduct standards may reflect the founding tradition.

A secular college can still have religious student groups and a welcoming environment. The difference is whether faith is part of the institution's stated purpose or a voluntary extracurricular layer.

Compare Schools on Four Practical Dimensions

1. Type and mission

Ask whether the school's mission matches your goals. If spiritual formation matters to you, a religious-affiliated school like Eastern University belongs on your list. If you want a purely secular academic environment, filter those out early.

2. Location and size

Philadelphia-area schools range from dense urban campuses to suburban ones. Location affects commute, housing, internships, and daily life. Size affects class format, access to professors, and how many majors and activities exist. Neither is inherently better — a large school offers more variety; a smaller one often offers more individual attention.

3. Degree offerings

Check that the school actually grants the degree level and field you want — undergraduate, graduate, or online. Eastern University, for instance, states that it prepares both undergraduate and graduate students, so it's worth checking whether your specific program exists there before comparing further.

4. Cost

Cost is the factor most often compared badly. Look at:

  • Published tuition and fees
  • Room and board, if you'll live on campus
  • Financial aid and scholarship policies
  • Net price after aid, not sticker price

Two schools with very different sticker prices can end up similar after aid. Compare net cost, not list cost.

A Checklist for Narrowing Your List

Work through these in order and eliminate schools that fail a hard requirement:

  1. Degree level and field — Does the school offer the program you want?
  2. Type and mission — Does a religious affiliation fit or conflict with what you're looking for?
  3. Location — Can you realistically commute, relocate, or live on campus?
  4. Size and format — Do you want large lectures, small seminars, or online options?
  5. Cost after aid — What will you actually pay per year?
  6. Campus life — Do the community, activities, and expectations match how you want to live?

Once a school passes all six, visit or attend an information session. Fit is easier to judge in person than on a comparison table.

Where Eastern University Fits

Eastern University is one Christian university in the Philadelphia area, not the only one. It belongs in the "private religious-affiliated" column, and its stated mission explicitly includes spiritual formation and service alongside academic preparation. If that combination matches your priorities, it's a reasonable school to evaluate against other Philadelphia options using the checklist above. If you want a secular environment or a public institution, it won't be the right fit — and that's a legitimate outcome of the comparison, not a failure of the search.